Keweenaw Chain Drive races to be June 14; early registration deadline is TODAY, May 31

Keweenaw Chain Drive participants cross the Portage Lift Bridge on their way to the Maasto Hiihto / Churning Rapids Trails in Hancock. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

HANCOCK -- The 2014 Keweenaw Chain Drive bike races will take place Saturday, June 14, at Maasto Hiihto / Churning Rapids Trails in Hancock. However, TODAY, Saturday, May 31, is the deadline to receive a nifty Chain Drive wicking bamboo t-shirt as part of your early registration (and to avoid a $10 fee increase).

The courses for the 16- and 30-mile cross-country mountain bike races will be the same as last year. Plenty of free food will be available at the finish, and the cooks promise some new menu items.

You'll find the online registration links at http://www.chaindrive.org/registration/.

If you've already registered for 2014, the Chain Drive committee thanks you for your support.

Volunteers may still be needed for the race. If you wish to volunteer, please contact Dan Dalquist at ddalquist@gmail.com.

Junior Chain Drive at Portage Health

The Junior Chain Drive will be held at Portage Health on Saturday, June 14.

Marc Norton (right in orange shirt), 2013 Junior Chain Drive organizer, explains to the youngest racers (under age 7) how to follow the course laid out for them at Portage Health. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

The Junior Chain Drive starts and ends at Portage Health, using a single-track trail in a wooded area east of the hospital. The event includes timed races for youth ages 8-13 and non-timed races for those age 7 and under. Registration is from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Portage Health (day of race only), and races begin at 3:30 p.m.

Click here for more information about the Junior Chain Drive.

Bike prizes offered for kids who participate in Chain Drive races

HANCOCK -- Portage Health, sponsor of the Chain Drive Bike races scheduled for Saturday, June 16, is offering bike prizes for kids who participate.

Junior Chain Drive race participants head for the novice trail at Portage Health in Hancock. This year a TREK Mountain Bike will be given as a door prize for a participant, age 13 or under, in the Junior Chain Drive. Two bikes will be given to young participants in the Chain Drive 16-Mile race. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

"Portage Health wants kids on bikes," says Lori Hauswirth, race organizer. "Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival is one way we are going to get them riding. If you have/know someone under 18, this is the year for them to ride Chain Drive. Two bikes will be given randomly as door prizes to kids that ride the 16-Mile event. A Kona Kahuna Deluxe will go to a rider ages 14-18 and a Kona Fire Mountain will be given to a rider 13 or under. A TREK Mountain Bike will be given as a door prize for the Junior Chain Drive. Let's encourage the kids to get out there and ride!"

Junior Chain Drive

Registration for the Junior Chain Drive is from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, June 16, in Portage Health Conference Room 5. Races start at 3:30 p.m.

Those who would like to fill out the paper work for the kids' race ahead of time can send Marc Norton, Junior Chain Drive director, an email request at gpc49913@charter.net and he'll send you a pdf that you can print and fill out ahead of time if you wish.

Price is $5 per racer.

Volunteers still needed:

Plenty of spots are still open to help with the Junior Chain drive.

Registration -- still need 2-3 more
Traffic Control -- 7 more needed
Lap Counters -- 2 needed
Rabbit -- 1 needed for 1-lap race
Sweeps -- 5 needed (or two who can ride 8 miles)
1st Responders -- 1 more desired
Emcee (race starter, awards announcer) -- 1 needed

Click here for the schedule of the Chain Drive Race events.

Click here for information on the Junior Chain Drive.

Updated: Keweenaw Chain Drive early registration deadline is May 31

 

Chain Drive participants head across the Portage Lift Bridge. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

HANCOCK -- The early registration deadline for the Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival is TOMORROW, Thursday, May 31. After midnight on May 31 (Thursday), festival shirts are not included and fees go up. Please register soon so you can enjoy the awesome bamboo shirt. You can register online at www.chaindrive.org or print a registration. 

Printed registrations can be dropped off at the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce in Houghton.

The 2012 event is on Saturday, June 16! The Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival mountain bike race includes 16- and 32-mile point-to-point cross-country distance races through the Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapids trail systems in Hancock. Racers will finish at the Portage Health campus with food, beverages, tunes, and awards.  Distance events will begin with a 10 a.m. roll-out at the Magnuson Hotel - Franklin Square Inn, at the east end of Shelden Avenue in downtown Houghton.

Junior Chain Drive: Kids line up for the start at Portage Health. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

The Junior Chain Drive youth races begin at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 16. The Junior Chain Drive starts and ends at Portage Health, using a single-track trail in a wooded area east of the hospital. The event includes timed races for youth ages 8-13 and non-timed races for those ages 7 and under. Registration is day-of-event only.

Volunteers still needed

Dan Dalquist reports that he still needs traffic control volunteers for the Chain Drive. If you respond no later than May 31, your volunteer shirt will be available before the race.

Locations needed:
 Shelden and Rhythm -- need 2 people
 Shelden and Ambassador -- 2 people
 Navy St and Tezcuco -- need 2 more
 In Hancock -- Jasberg and Wolverine -- need 1
 M-203 and Atlantic St. -- need 1
 Crossing at Snowmobile trail and snowfence trail - Need 3 - 10:30 to 12, 12 to 1:30, 1:30 to sweep
 Doug's Bypass exit onto Campus drive -- 1
 Campus Drive and Portage St. -- need 2-3 from 12:15 to last racer
 First Aid Tent -- need medical professional for the Chain Drive (10:30 to 2) and for Kids race (2:30 - 4)

Please click here to respond through the Chain Drive volunteer site and include your shirt size or respond directly to ddalquist@gmail.com.

Early registration for Chain Drive races is tonight, June 15, in Hancock

Keweenaw Chain Drive participants cross the Portage Lift Bridge on their way to the Maasto Hiihto / Churning Rapids Trails in Hancock. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

HANCOCK -- Early check-in / registration for the Portage Health Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival 16- and 32-Mile Races will be available from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, June 15, at 1102 Ethel Ave. in Hancock (Corner across from Keweenaw Co-op). This is a chance to pickup your bib/swag bag early or register if you haven't already.

The Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival mountain bike race on Saturday, June 18, includes 16- and 32-mile point-to-point cross-country distance races on the Maasto Hiihto / Churning Rapids Trails in Hancock. The course includes miles of single track and lots of elevation change. Distance events will begin with a 10 a.m. roll-out at the Magnuson Hotel - Franklin Square Inn, at the east end of Shelden Avenue in downtown Houghton. The finish will be at the Portage Health parking lot in Hancock. Awards will be given at the finish area at 2:30 p.m.

Thank you for checking in early because it helps relieve some of the pressure of registration on Friday/Saturday. It also helps you avoid the chaos of Friday's parade and/or gives you less to do on Saturday morning.

The Cross County Sports pre-ride of the 16-mile course starts at 6:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, from the bottom of Cemetery Hill on M203. Stop by after your ride!

Kids line up for the 2010 Junior Chain Drive at Portage Health. (Keweenaw Now file photo © 2010 Kate Flynn)

The Junior Chain Drive Registration is on Saturday only from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. at Portage Health. The Junior Chain Drive race, for youth 13 and under, kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 18, at the Portage Health System campus in Hancock.

Click here for online registration. Click here for more information about the races, the schedule and other registration times.